And frederick s



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. H. HULLAR & P. S. HOLMES.

ELECTRIC SAFE 1.00K.

N0. 438,236. v Patented 001:. 14, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. E. I-IOLLAR 8v E. S. HOLMES.

ELECTRIC SAFE LOGK Patented om.. 14, 1890.

(No Model.) l 4 sheets-sneet s;

W. H. HOLLAR 8: F. S.-IIOLMES.

ELEGTEIG SEEE LOCK.

Patented Oct. 14, 1890t4 IreoZezzJe/% ,52715575667 (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. H. HOLLAR & F. S. HOLMES. ELECTRIC SAFE LOCK.

.nung

rw/ Imm alabama UNITED STATES ATENI Fries.

lVILLlAM H. HOLLAR, OF ELIZABETH, NEV JERSEY, AND FREDERICK S. HOLMES, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO JAMES W. TORREY, OF MERCHANTVILLE, NEX/V JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SAFE-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,236, dated October 14, 1890.

Application led February 3, 1890. Serial No. 338,955. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. HOLLAR, of Elizabeth, county of Union, State of New Jersey, and FREDERICK S. HOLMES, of Malden, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Safe-Locks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide apparatus by which a combination-bolt or other locking mechanism employed on safes or vaults, bonded warehouses, and other depositories for valuables may be electrically controlled at any given point or points, as from a main or other station.

Our improved electric controlling apparatus may be used in connection with one or more of a series of electrically-actuated locks, whereby any desired number of said locks may be controlled simultaneously or separately.

The controlling apparatus may be used to control the electrically-actuated combinationlock, which, if desired, may be used in connection with a time-lock, so that in case the time-lock fails to operate-as, for instance, in case the time-lock becomes disconnected or broken from the bolt mechanism-the operation of the boltmechanism may be controlled by the electrically-actuated combination-lock.

The particular features in which our invention consists Will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Other features of our invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an electric controlling apparatus embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a top or plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 3, a transverse section of the apparatus' shown in Fig. 2 on line Figs. 4 and 5, details of a pole-changer to be referred to, Fig. 5 being a transverse section of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a detail of a brake mechanism to be referred to; Figs. 7 and 8, diagrams of circuits to more clearly illustrate the operation of our improved apparatus; Fig. 9,

lock-operating mechanism shown in Fig. 14,

looking toward the right; Fig. 16, a modified form of pole-changer; Fig. 17, a section of the pole-changer shown in Fig. 16 on line zz; Fig. 18, a detail of a portion of the safe-door; Fig. 19, a modified arrangement of circuits to be referred to, and Fig. 2O a detail to more clearly show the contact-brush.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3,A represents a base of Wood or other suitable material, to which are secured uprights A A2 A3, constituting a frame-Work to support the Working parts of our improved controlling apparatus, as will be described.

The uprights A2 As form bearings for the shafts of a clock or other time movements,

which may be of any usual or Well-known construction, it being herein shown as provided with a fan d, having secured to or forming part of it, a brake Wheel or disk a', With which co-operates a brake-shoe e2, (see Figs. 2 and 6,) the said brake-shoe being pivoted to the upright A3, and having secured to or forming part of it, as herein shown, a rod a3, nor- 'mally resting upon a dog or arm ci, on ashaft a5, provided With a bevel-gear OLG. The bevelgear a meshes with a bevel-pinion a7, mounted on a shaft as, having bearings in arms a9, of a bracket 0,10, secured, as shown, to the upright A2, by screws C612, the said shaft being provided, as shown, With a thumb-piece or handle als, by rotating which the shaft as may be turned to engage the brake-shoe a2 with the periphery of the disk a to stop the clock-Work or to disengage the said brake-shoe from the said disk to start the clock-work.- The shaft .a5 has mounted upon it, as herein shown, a

hub a, provided with an arm (115, to Whichis secured a commutator-brush als, which co-operates with a commutator composed of a series of segments or contact plates or strips a, secured to a block or piece als of insulating material, the said insulating-block having secured to it a contact-arm d20, bearing upon the hub 0.14. The insulating-block d, as herein shown, has secured to it eight commutatorstrips w17, marked O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, each commutator-strip, except the one marked O, forming one terminal of a circuit, the co-operating terminal of which. as herein shown in Fig. l, is

, the brush C016, the commutator-strip being of insulating material to-positively break or open the circuit when the brush @16 is in contact therewith.

The uprights A A2 form journal-bearings for a shaft 5, to which is secured apointer or index 5, co-operating with a graduated dial 52, the said shaft having mounted on it a break or commutator wheel 53, which maybe of any ordinary construction, but which in l the present instance is shown as a toothed wheel provided with insulation between the said teeth, the said wheel having as many teeth as there are graduations on the dial 52, the said commutator-wheel constituting a circuit-breaker, by which the operation of the boltoperating mechanism is controlled, as will be described. The break-wheel 53 has cooperating with it two contact pens or brushes 54 55, secured to a block 56 of insulating material, supported by the uprights A2 A3. The brush 55 is connected by Wire 57 (see Fig. 7) to the arm d20, and the brush 51 is connected by wire 5s to two poles or contact-points 59 510 of a pole-changer, which may be of any usual construction, but which is herein shown as consisting of two arms 512 513, loosely mounted on the shaft 5, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) but insulated therefrom and having their ends movable between the contact-points 59 510 and a second set of contact points or poles 514515, (shown as pins,) extended through opposite sides 516 517 of a piece 518 of insulating material (see Fig. 4) secured to or forming part of the insulating-block 5"'. The arms 512 513 are separated by a ring c of insulating material, (see Fig. 5,) and on the opposite side of the arm 512 is mounted a hub c2 of insulating material rmly secured to the shaft 5. as by a pin c3. The shaft 5 also has mounted on it a loose ring c', which is kept pressed against the arm 513 by a spring c4, encircling the shaft 5 and located between the ring c and the hub c5, secured to the shaft, as by a pin c6. The shaft 5 is rotated in opposite directions to bring the arms 512 51B in contact with one set of poles and then with the other by means of a reversing mechanism, consisting, as herein shown, of a disk c8 of insulating material provided with arubber band or tire e9, with which co-operates two friction-hubs 010 012 (see Fig. on shafts 013 014, having one end extended into slots 015 in the upright A and their other ends joined bya plate o16. (Indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3.) The shafts C13 014 have mounted on them gears d d', rotated in opposite directions by pinions cl2 d3 in mesh with each other,

Y the pinion d2 meshing with the gear d and the piniond3 with the gear d', the pinion d2 being driven by the clock-work, and the pinion cl3, having one journal extended into a slot 015 in the upright A, and its other journal mounted in the plate o16. The plate o16 has secured to or forming part of it a rod d4, having one end extended through a slot or opening in an arm d5, fast on a shaft d6, supported in the end d1 of a bracket cls, secured to or forming part of the upright A3. The shaft (Z6 is normally maintained in such position as to keep the friction-hubs 010 012 out of contact with the friction-disk cs, as herein shown, by means of spring-actuated rods d d10, extended through openings in suitable bars or plates (112 and normally bearing against the opposite sides of the arm d5. The shaft d6 is provided, as shown, with a thumb piece or handle dm, by which the said shaft may be rotated in one direction-for instance, as indicated by arrow 20, Figs. l and 3, to move the friction-hub C10 up into contact with the friction-disk cS and produce rotation of the said disk in one direction,as indicated by arrow 2l, Figs. l and 3 or the said shaft may be turned in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 2O to bring the friction-hub 012 into contact with the friction-disk cs, and thereby produce rotation of the said friction-disk in the direction of arrow 22. As the friction-disk vcg is rotated in either direction, the pointer or index 5 is rotated in the same direction. The arms 512 513 of the pole-changer are connected, respectively, by wires e e to the positive and negative poles of a battery B, (see Fig. 7,) the said wires being shown as made in two parts in Fig. 2 and secured to binding-posts e2 es.

The apparatus thus far described consti-4 tutes the controlling-instrument of our improved apparatus, and in practice the said instrument will be located at a central point or station and is to be accessible to only authorized persons. For instance,it may be located at the main office of a safe-deposit or trust company or at the presidents house, or at any other desired point.

Our improved controlling-instrument is designed to operate an electrically-actuated combination-lock controlling the bolt-operating mechanism of one or more or any desired number of safes, vaults, or other receptacles, and for sake of simplicity we shall hereinafter describe our invention with relation to a safe.

In accordance with our invention each safe has located within it, preferably, a polarized electro-magnet of any usual or desired construction, it being herein shown in Fig. l0 asA made of two magnetic coils e1' e5 and a permanent magnet e6, to one part of which is secured the coils e4 e5. The polarized magnet is herein shown as secured to a frame e?, (see Fig. 9,) having secured to or forming part of vit a bracket es, to which is pivoted the armature e9, provided at its opposite ends with pawls @1 @12, pivoted on said armature. The pawls e1() @12 are adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet-wheel 613, mounted on a stud e11, projecting from the frame e7, and the said arma- IOO IIO

IZO

ture is kept in its normal position with the pawls out of engagement with the said ratchet- Wheel by a suitable spring or springs, it being herein shown as normally maintained in its central position by spring-actuated rods or bars 916, constituting a centering device for the said armature and at the same time a lock ing device for the ratchet-wheel, as will be described. The ratchet-wheel is loose on the shaft @14 and is provided, preferably, with a -stud or in e30 extended into a recess or groove on one face of a tumbler loose on the shaft 611 and marked 50 in Fig. 9, there being four tumblers herein shown. The tumbler 50 has a shoulder against which the pin is brought in contact by the rotation of the said ratchet-wheel. The remaining tumblers are provided in similar manner with studs and grooves; but we do not desire to limit ourselves to this specific form of tumbler, asany other usual or well-known form may be employed. Each tumbler is herein shown as made in two parts, preferably, as disks ff', the disk fbeing of metal and provided with a socket or notch containing insulation f2, and the disk f being of insulating material and provided, as shown, with a block f3@ of metal. Each tumbler has co-operating with it, preferably, four wipers or contactbrushes 12 13 11 15, the wiper 12 of the iirst tumbler being connected by wire 16 (see Fig. 8) to the wiper 14 of the said tumbler, and the wiper 13 of the first tumbler is connected to the return-wire f3, joined to the poles Z314 Z915, and the wiper 15 of the said tumbler is connected to the Wiper 14 of the second tumbler, and so on, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, the wiper 15 of the last tumbler being connected by wire f4 to an auxiliary magnet f5, joined by wire f6 to the return-wire f3. The magnet e4 of the polarized magnet is connected by Wiref7 to the wiper 12 of the first tumbler, and the magnet e5 by wire]a8 to one of the commutator-strips. (Herein shown as the strip 7.) The auxiliary magnet f5 has its armature f1 operatively connected to the bolt-operating mechanism, which may be of anydesired or usual construction, it consisting, as herein shown, of an elbow-lever fx, pivoted as at f12, and a bar or rod fw, pivoted to said lever, as atf11, the said rod or bar being shown in Fig. 10 as supported by a suitable guide fw, and provided with a suitable shoulder f1?, normally abutting against the guide f16, and constituting a stop for the outward movement of the rod f13, the end of the rod f13 being eX- tended into the path of movement of the rod fo, which may be supposed to be connected with the bolt-work of the safe.

As represented in Figs. 7 and 8, our improved controlling mechanism is supposed to control the unlocking of seven safes or vaults, there being seven circuits connected to the commutator-strips, the wire f3 forminga common return for all the said circuits. Each circuit contains a polarized electro-magnet for operatingL thetumblers, and an electromagnet in a branch or shunt circuit for operating the bolt mechanism. The combination of the locks in all the lcircuits maybe alike, or the said combinations may be unlike.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows, viz: The operator at the central station iirst turns the thumb-piece @13 in the direction indicated by arrow 30, Fig. 3, until the brush o16 is brought in contact with the desired commutator-strip n.17, which, for instance, may be supposed to be the contactstrip 1, as represented in Figs. 7 and 8. As the thumb-piece @13 is rotated in the direction of arrow 30, the bevel-gear a6 is rotated by the bevel-pinion a7, and the dog a4 is moved down away from the arm a3 on the brake-shoe, thus permitting the latter to drop away from the brake-wheel and start the clock-work and produce rotation of the gears d d and their shafts 013 C14. As soon as the clock-work is started, the operator turns the thumb-piece Z13 in the direction indicated by arrow 2O or in the opposite direction, according to which direction it is desired to move the ratchet-wheel 013 in the safe or vault. Let it be supposed that the thumb-piece (Z13 is turned in the direction of arrow 20. In this case the friction-hub 010 is broughtin contact with the friction-wheel e8, and the latter, its shaft, and the pointer are rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 21, and the arms Z912 Z213 of the pole-changer brought in contact with the poles b9 Z915, thus closing the circuit of the coils e4 e5 of the polarized magnet and causing the coil c4 to attract the armature and move the pawl @12 into engagement with the ratchet-wheel 613 and rotate it one tooth. The circuit of the coils is broken as an insulating-strip of the circuit-breaking Wheel b3 passes under the pen or brush b4, and at each break in the circuit the armature e9 is restored to its central or normal position by the spring. The friction-hub 010 is maintained in con tact with the friction-wheel until the ratchet-wheel ehas been revolved the requisite number of times to bring the stud or pin f18 on the first tumbler (marked 55) in Fig. 9 into contact with an arm )620, (see Fig. 10,) secured to or forming part of a cap fm, fast on the shaft @11. As soon as the stud or pin f18 cornes in contact with the arm f2", which is indicated by the pointer Zi having reached the desired graduation or number on the dial b2 of the transmitting-instrument, the operator turns the thumb-piece Z913 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 20, and brings the friction-hub 012 in contact with the friction-wheel cs, thus producing rotation of the said friction-wheel in the direction of arrow 22, Fig. 3, and moving the circuit-breaking wheel b3 and its shaft Z9 in the same direction. As the shaft Zi is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 22, the arms Z112 Z213 of the pole-changer are brought in contact with the poles Z210 Z914, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 7, and with the arms Z212 Z213 in contact with the poles Z910 614 the magnet-coil e5 IIO is energized and the armature e9 attracted by the said coil, and the ratchet-wheel 613 rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 40, the circuit being traced from the positive pole of the battery by wire e, arm 1112, pole 1910, wire bs, brush b4, Wheel b3, brush b5, wire 197, arms 0,20 0.15, contact-brush am, wire f8, through the coils e5 e, wire f7, wipers 12, 13, wire f3, pole Z914, wire e', to the negative pole of the battery. As the break-wheel b3 revolves under the pen b4, the circuit is broken, as described, and the ratchet-wheel @13 is intermittently rotated to move the tumblers until the second tumbler (marked 56) has become stationary with relation to the tumbler 55. In this way the friction-wheel c8 is rotated in opposite directions until the pointer b has been turned on the dial'b2 in opposite directions a sufficient number of times to bring the metal block .f3 of each tumbleriu contact with the pens or wipers 14 15, co-operating therewith, and as soon as the tumbler 50 has been revolved into such position that its metal block f3 remains stationary under the pens 14 15 the circuit of the auxiliary magnet f5 will be closed, the metal blocks of all the tumblers being at such time in contact with the pens or wipers 14 15.

The circuit of the auxiliary magnet may be traced as follows: (See Fig. 8.) From the positive pole by wire e, arm Z912, pole b1", wire bs, pen-brush b4, wheel b3, pen b5, wire t7, arms 0.20 w15, brush als, wire f8, magnet e5, wire f7, wiper 12, wire 16, wipers 14 15 of the tumbler 55, wire 17, Wipers 14 l5 of the next tumbler,

wire 18 and wipers 14 15 of the next tumbler, wire 19, wipers 14 15 of the last tumbler; thence by wire f 4, magnet f5, wire f6, and return-wire f3 to the pole 514; thence by arm 13 and wire e to the negative pole of the battery.

As soon as the circuit of the auxiliary magnet f5 is closed, which is effected when all the tumblers have been turned into such position that their metal blocks f3 are in substantially the same horizontal line, and in contact with their co-operating wipers 14 15 the armature 1 of the said auxiliary magnet is attracted, and the lever fX is turned on its pivot f 12, and the rod f13 thus withdrawn away from the rod or bar f5() of thebolt mechanism, thus leaving the latter free or unlocked, so that it will drop into position to permit the bolt mechanism to be operated and the door unlocked. It will thus be seen that any number of safes or vaults may be controlled from one point or central office by the controlling apparatus, it only being necessary to move the contact-brush am into contact with the commutator-strip of the circuit connected with the said safe or vault.

Each safe or vault may have a different combination, and the operator lnay effect the movement of the combination at the central station by means of t-he pointer b; but, if desired, the different safes or vaults may. have the same combination, and all may be operated at the same time by making the contactarm als of such shape that it will make contact with all the commutator-strips ctw, or all the safes may be connected in one circuit, as will be described.

Referring to Fig. 18 it will be noticed that but one wire is passed through the door or wall of the safe, the other wire being connected to the outside of the safe in any suitable manner.

We prefer to employ the auxiliary magnet f5; but we do not desire to limit ourselves in this respect, as the said magnet may be dispensed with and the bolt-operating mechanism operated mechanically-as, for instance, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

Referring to Fig. 15, the bracket es has pivoted upon it a lever g, having loosely pivoted to it at its upper end a bent arm g,extended over and so as to rest upon the peripheries of the tumblers. In this case each tumbler is provided with a notch g2, and when the notches of all the tumblers have been brought into line with each other by means of the ratchetwheel cl3, as above described, the arm g falls by gravity into the said notches, and when the armature is again attracted, all the tumblers are moved simultaneously bythe ratchetwheel in the direction to turn the lever g on its pivot and through the connecting-rod g3 and lever g4 operate the bolt mechanism fo. So, also, Wedo not desire to limit ourselves to the manner shown for operating the polechanger, as the arms 1912 bls of the same may be fixed upon the shaft d, (see Fig. 16,) and positively moved when the thumb-piece Z913 is turned.

Referring to Fig. 19, we have represented four safes, marked 71 72 73, connected independently of one another by wires 76, and a switch or circuit closer 77, preferably a button or plug or spring-jack of ordinary construction, to make a connection between the branch wires 75 76 and a-main circuit 80,

controlled by the pole-changer, the said main circuit being represented as provided with spring-arms 78, between which the plug or switch 77 is inserted and which when the said plug is withdrawn come together to complete the main circuit between these points, so that when all the plugs are out the main circuit is closed and in condition to be opened by a plug-switch to cut in the branch circuit in which the safe is connected.

I claimv 1. The combination, with an electricallyactuated combination-lock arranged within a safe or other receptacle and comprising a series of tumblers and a ratchet-wheel to operate them, and a polarized electro-magnet 1ocated in said safe to rotate said ratchet-wheel, of a pole-changer located outside the safe and connected in circuit with said polarized electro-magnet, an electric generator connected to said polarized magnet through said polechanger, and a circuit-breaker to control the operation of the said magnet, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a lock arranged IIl wit-hin a safe or other receptacle and consisting of a series of tumblers, and a ratchetwheel to operate said tumblers, of a polarized electro-magnet located in said safe or receptacle to rotate said ratchet-wheel, an electric generator, a controlling-instrument located outside the safe and consisting of a polechanger connected in circuit with the said polarized electro-magnet, a break-wheel h3 in circuit with said pole-changer, a dial, a pointer, and a reversing mechanism to produce opposite rotations of the said pointer and breakwheel, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a series of locks arranged within a series of safes or receptacles and each consisting of a series of tumblers, and a ratchet-wheel to operate said tumblers, of a polarized electro-magnet located in each receptacle, an electric generator, a pole-changer connected in circuit with the polarized electro-magnet, a circuit-breaker, a commutator having its segments connected 1n circuit with the electro-magnets, and a brush co-operatin g with the said segments and adapted to complete the circuits of the said polarized electro-magnets, whereby each safe orreceptacle maybe operated individually or simultaneously, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with an electricallyactuated combination-lock arranged within a safe or other receptacle and comprising a series of tumblers, a ratchet-wheel to operate said tumblers, a polarized magnet located in said safe to rotate said ratchet-wheel, a bolt mechanism, and an auxiliary magnet energized through said tumblers to control said bolt mechanism, of an electric generator and a pole-changer located outside said safe and connected to the polarized electro-magnet to produce reverse rotations of the ratchetwheel, and a circuit-breaker, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with an electricallyactuated combination-lock arranged within a sate or other receptacle and comprising a series of tumblers, a ratchet-Wheel to operate said tumblers, a polarized magnet located in said safe to rotate said ratchet-wheel, a bolt mechanism, and an auxiliary magnet energized through said tumblers to control said bolt mechanism, of an electric generator and a controlling-instrument consisting, essentially,of a break-wheel connected in circuit with the polarized electro-magnet, a polechanger, a dial and pointer co-operating with said dial, a friction-disk, and a reversing mechanism co-operating with said frictiondisk to control the vrotating ot said pointer and break-wheel, substantially as described.

The combination, with an electricallyactuated combination-lock arranged within a safe or other receptacle and comprising a series of tumblers, a ratchet-wheel to operate said tumblers, a polarized electro-magnet located in said safe to rotate said ratchetwheel, and a bolt mechanism controlled by said tumblers, of an electric generator and a controlling-instrument consisting, essentially, of abreak-wheel connected in circuitwith the polarized electro magnet, a dial, a pointer c0- operating with said dial, a pole-changer, a friction-disk, and a reversing mechanism cooperating with said friction-disk to control the rotation of said pointer and break-wheel,

substantially as described.

'7. The combination, with an electricallyactuated combination-lock arranged Within a safe or other receptacle and comprising a series of tumblers, and a polarized electromagnet located in said safe to operate said tumblers, of a bolt mechanism controlled by said tumblers, an electric generator, a controlling-instrument consisting, essentially, of a pole-changer connected to the polarized electro-magnet, a dial and pointer co-operating therewith, a friction-disk, and a reversing mechanism co-operating with said frictiondisk to control the rotating of said pointer and break-wheel, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with an electricallyactuated combination-lock arranged within a safe or receptacle and consisting of a series of tumblers, a ratchet-Wheel to operate said tumblers, and a polarized electro-magnet located in said safe to rotate said ratchet-wheel, of an electric generator,ab1eak-wheelb3,connected in circuit with the polarized electromagnet, a pole-changer, and a reversing mechanism to produce opposite rotations of the said break-wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. HOLLAR. FREDERICK S. HOLMES. Witnesses:

GEO. W. ADAMS, BENJ. S. BANKS.

IOS 

